Orchard heater



1940- H. .1. LAMBERT I 2.2l0,419

ORCHARD HEATER Filed Aug. 15, 1957 I A 20 r ,8/ W

16 v 2 l I r a 8 Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED sTAss oaormm) HEATER I ll-Howard J. Lambert, Les Angelles, Calif.,

Application August 13,

1937, Serial No. 158,826

3 Claims. (Cl. 158-421) My invention relates to improvements in 'orchard heaters of the type designedpto be placed within an area to be heated, that is, in an orchard, or other outdoor area, in a shop or other large structure which it is. desired to heat.

The first object of my invention is to provide an improved orchard heater which will furnish" a maximum amount of heat with practically no smoke or products of combustion discharged from chardists, thus greatly reducing the expense thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a heater wherein the heat generated is so directed that the oil reservoir becomes heated to such an extent that not only the lightergas vapors will pass off, but the heavier gases will also be generated and released with the lighter gases, and directed into the combustion area of the apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved means for admitting atmospheric air and for directing and mixing it most effectively with the gases generated in the heater, whereby to promote immediate combustion and to'progressively increase such combustion until all the gases and by-products are consumed.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a heater of the character referred to, an air inlet pipe for directing outside air up into the combustion area to be mixed with any gases or products of combustion which may not have been fully consumed in reaching this upper combustion area.

Another object of my invention is to provide in combination with an air inlet pipe of the characterreferred to a bafile member under which outside air is discharged from said air pipe.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combustion chamber having thereinv acentral upwardly convexed bafiie member with means for directing outside air up into said combustion chamber and discharging it under said baffle member, with other means for supplying outside under said bafile member, and. also for discharging outside air inwardly through said outer wall opposite said bafll'e member. This provides a horizontal layer or area of fresh air so positioned that any unburned gases and products of combustion must pass through it and further combustion thereof result. 7

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description of one practical embodiment thereof, taken with the accompanying-sheet of drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of an orchard heater embodying my invention, with parts broken away and other parts shownin section; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of my invention here shown for explanatory pur poses, 5 designates a fuel oil bowl or reservoir in common use, and having an inlet or supplyopening in the top, thereof with the usual cap cover 6. Said cap cover is provided with the usual damper arrangement for regulating the inflow s of air to the interior of the reservoir. Said fuel bowl has the'usual neck' portion 1, over which various kinds of combustion structures can be placed.

I have provided a pan-like member 8, having a downwardlyextending flange: orcollar portion 9, which fits over said neck portion 1, said pan- 7 like member 8 having an outer circle of air inlet holes it therethrough, and an inner circle of smaller air inlet holes l l, as seen more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Seated. within the flange 8' of saidpan-like member 8, is a drum l2, provided at its upper end with a tapering extension l3, upon the upper end of which is placed a stack 14, substantially in the manner illustrated.

I have also shown a hood or canopy l5 mounted over said extension l3, for deflecting heat downwardly'around the fuel bowl, and for sheltering the combustion structure.

Directly over the central'opening of the panlike member 8, and over the neck portion 1 of the fuel bowl, Ihave placed a disc bafiie member l6, provided on its under side with three supporting feet l1, l1, resting upon the bottom of the pan-like member 8, which hold said baffie member 16 a short distance above the inflow fromthe fuel'bowl to the drum 12, as indicated.

Mounted upon said bafile member I6 is an air tube It, of angular form, the lower end of which extends through said pan-like member 3, to receive outside air from under said member 8, and the upper end of which extends up intothe combustion chamber formed within the drum l2, substantially in the proportions shown, and has mounted upon its upper end an upwardly convexed bafiie member !9, substantially as illustrated. Four outlet holes 26, are provided in the upper end of said tube, immediately under said bafile, with a combined area equal to the area of said tube i8, for discharging air outwardly under said member l9, as indicated. Around said drum [2, opposite said baffle member I9, I have also provided a circle of air inlet holes 2|, for the inflow of air at this same level, thus providing a film or horizontal strata of fresh air within the combustion chamber and through which unburned gases or other products of combustion must pass in their upward movement, and which causes renewed combustion thereof.

Thus fresh air passes upwardly through the holes in and H in the bottom of the member 8, to mingle with the gases coming up under the disc bafile F6, from the fuel bowl or reservoir, and at the upper level, fresh air is discharged outwardly through the holes 20, under said baflie member 19, and inwardly through the holes 21 in the drum 12.

In operating my improved orchard heater, the fuel oil is supplied to the fuel bowl 5 in the usual manner and is ignited. The amount of air admitted through the damper cap 6 governs the combustion in said fuel bowl. The air entering said cap 6 is preheated by the deflected and radiated heat and the cover of said fuel bowl is also heated thereby. This promotes the development of gases within the fuel bowl and the combustion thereof.

As these ignited gases pass upwardly through the neck '5 of said fuel bowl they are deflected by the baflie member l6, which is also heated, and as they are deflected outwardly under said member l6, they are intercepted by inflowing heated air through the holes H and 10, which greatly promotes the combustion of said gases and the development of great heat. As said combustion continues and said burning gases rise in the combustion chamber within the drum [2, they come in contact with the upper baffle member I9, also heated, and with the heated fresh air being discharged outwardly through the holes 2%, 20, immediately under said baffle member I9, and with the infiowing air through the holes 2i, 2!, which further promotes and perfects the combustion taking place within said combustion chamber, with the result that practically no smoke at all is permitted to escape out through the stack M.

The baflie member I 5 becomes a cherry red heat and this heat is reflected and radiated so as to preheat the gases therein and cause combustion thereof as they come into contact with the inflowing air through the air inlets 2|, 2|. The baffle member i9 is also heated in the same manner and its heat is radiated upwardly and downwardly and further promotes the heating of the gases between said bafile members and within said combustion chamber, so that the inflowing, heated fresh air through the tube l8 and out the holes 20, and the air inflowing through the holes 2| in the wall of the combustion chamber, as nearly perfect combustion is secured within said combustion chamber as can be had.

This inflow of air and the combustion of the gases results in a powerful turbulence or series of combustions, setting up continuous vibrations or impulses which disturb the air currents.

While I have shown and described in detail a practical embodiment of my invention, I am aware that changes in the details of construction and arrangement can be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not limit myself to the showing made for explanatory purposes, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an orchard heater, the combination with a fuel bowl in which fuel oil is ignited, said fuel bowl having a neck-like opening therefrom, of a drum supported over said bowl and having an opening in its bottom to fit over said neck-like portion on said bowl, a bafiie member in said drum immediately above said opening, whereby ignited gases from Said fuel bowl are directed outwardly and upwardly around the edge of said baflie member as they enter said drum, an air inlet tube having its lower end open to the outside of said drum through the bottom thereof and extended inwardly over said bafiie member and upwardly therefrom and having discharge openings in its upper end to discharge air outwardly radially therefrom to mix with the said ignited gases moving upwardly through said drum, and a baffle member over the upper end of said tube to spread said gases.

2. In an orchard heater, the combination with a fuel bowl having a central outlet opening with flange therearound, of a drum having an opening in its bottom adapted to fit over said flange and to receive gases from said bowl therethrough, a baffle member in said drum oversaid opening and close thereto, an air tube having its lower end opening through the bottom of said drum and extended upwardly and inwardly over said bafile member, a second baffle member on the upper end of said air tube, directly above said first bafiie member, said tube having its upper end discharging air outwardly under said second baflle member to mix with the ignited gases in said drum to cause the further combustion thereof.

3. An orchard heater including a fuel bowl tohold fuel oil, to be ignited therein, and having a central outlet opening in its top, a drum having an opening in its bottom adapted to be connected over said outlet opening from said fuel bowl, the bottom of said drum having air inlet openings therethrough around and outside of its connection with said fuel bowl, a baflie member in said drum over the opening to said fuel bowl to deflect gases therefrom outwardly around its edge, an air tube in said drum and having its lower end opening out through the bottom of said drum and being extended inwardly and upwardly over said bafile member, a second baffle member at the upper end of said tube, said tube being open to discharge outside air under said second baffie member to mingle with the gases in said drum, said drum having openings through its side opposite said second baffle member, and a stack over said drum.

HOWARD J. LAMBERT. 

